Iowa Has Nearly 100 New Coronavirus Cases

Public health officials are reporting 97 new cases of COVID-19 in Iowa.

The latest figures from the Iowa Department of Public Health released Wednesday morning show 1,145 people have tested positive for the coronavirus. During her daily press briefing, Gov. Kim Reynolds said 122 Iowans remain hospitalized and 431 people – or 38-percent of those who were diagnosed with the coronavirus -- have recovered.

Black Hawk County reported four new cases, three of which involve adults between the ages of 41 and 60. The fourth cases involves an adult between the ages of 18 and 40.

Tama County reported four addtional cases, Allamakee had two, and Benton and Marshall counties each reported additional one.

The cases in Tama County involve between the ages of 61 and 80, one adult between the ages of 41 and 60 and one adult between the ages of 18 and 40. The cases in Allamakee County involve adults between the ages of 61 and 80 and 18 and 40. The Marshall County involves an adult between the ages of 18 and 40, and the Benton County case involves a child between the ages of 0 and 17.

Reynolds did not mentioned any deaths during Wednesday’s press briefing, but the Iowa Department of Public Health confirmed afterward that a Linn County adult, who was over the age of 81, died of coronavirus symptoms during the past 24 hours. The number of deaths from the pandemic in Iowa now stands at 27.

The virus is now present in 79 of Iowa's 99 counties, with Worth County now reporting its first confirmed case.

The projected peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Iowa is projected to happen later this month.

The Governor announced today that the first financial assistance checks to help Iowa’s small businesses were issued Tuesday. Reynolds said those checks have been sent to almost 500 bars and restaurant that she ordered closed last month in an attempt to stop the spread of the virus. Reynolds also announced an expansion of the state’s small business loan program, adding another $20 million to the $4 million that she initially made available.